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Authors: Joann I. Martin Sowles
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gift bag that was filled with a variety of candy, and I wondered if it was a supply I should keep on hand for him. Carter’s gift was a huge box of Lucky Charms that he’d wrapped in a brown, paper sack, and in a small grocery bag was a root beer and a bag of chips with a card in which he’d written, “There’s nothing that a bag of chips and a root beer can’t fix.” It made me smile and brought tears to my eyes that he remembered me saying that to him back when we stayed at Lilly’s.
I was saying thank you to everyone, and Kiera was announcing that cake was only minutes away when the front door opened. Ashton stepped inside, and I shot Kiera a dirty look as she shrugged at me. I saw Oliver’s posture take on a whole new stance, and Hayden, who had been leaning against him where they stood, took a step away, noticing the change in his mood.
The apartment grew rather quiet, and the atmosphere completely changed as Ashton crossed the room to me. He sported his usual designer clothes and a new hairdo. It looked like some sort of faux-hawk instead of all the spikes he’d been faithful to for so many years. He smiled down at me and handed me a wrapped rectangular box.
“Happy birthday, Laney,” he said as I stared up at him. “Go ahead, open it,” he encouraged with a smile that I was sure hid some sort of alternate agenda.
As I peeled away the pink paper, I stared down at the most baffling gift yet. It was a vampire Barbie doll. I looked up at him somewhat confused, and he said, “I heard you like vampires.”
His eyes never faltered but I’m sure mine did. I’d seen Oliver take a step forward when Ashton said those words, and I shook my head just a tiny bit and saw him stop.
“I, uh, um, thanks…I guess,” I said.
He gave me a quick nod then headed for the kitchen. Everyone’s eyes were on me—except Kiera’s, she was the only one who was clueless to the whole “my boyfriend being a vampire” thing—and I’m sure they were all just as dumbfounded as I was.
I stared down at the doll. Does he know? I wondered. How could he?
Oliver still had his sunglasses on, even though it was now dark outside. I didn’t get what that was about but it would have been nice to be able to make eye contact with him so I would have some sort of idea what he was thinking.
Carter mouthed, “What the hell?” to me, and I shook my head and shrugged because I really had no idea.
Kiera had moved on—being the only one who was oblivious to what had happened—she had the cake on the table and ready for me. She had one big candle stuck in the center. She lit the candle and began singing “ Happy Birthday ” and everyone chimed in.
Everyone except Ashton, who was too busy downing a beer, and Oliver, who I assumed was too busy keeping an eye on Ashton. And of course me, it was my birthday after all.
I blew out the candle without making a wish, and Kiera began slicing up my mint chip and chocolate ice cream cake.
I whispered, or growled, I don’t really remember, “Why did you invite him?”
“I didn’t. He sent me a message earlier and asked if we were doing anything for your birthday, and I said yes. That was it. I didn’t even tell him where we’d be,” she whispered back.
I caught a whiff of the cake, the mint was strong, and my stomach rolled. I took a step back, and Kiera eyed me curiously. She handed a large piece of cake to Carter.
Between swigs of his second beer Ashton said, “Isn’t chocolate bad for dogs?”
I froze. Every inch of my body went completely stiff as I watched Carter’s eyes get huge. I’m sure mine were too.
All Kiera said was, “I don’t know, I guess so.” She shrugged, and I saw confusion cross her face for a brief moment.
Isaac popped up out of nowhere and introduced himself to Ashton as one of Carter’s friends. Then he suggested in a rather rudely-polite sort of way, that it was time for Ashton to leave. I was surprised how quietly and quickly Ashton was out the
I was saying thank you to everyone, and Kiera was announcing that cake was only minutes away when the front door opened. Ashton stepped inside, and I shot Kiera a dirty look as she shrugged at me. I saw Oliver’s posture take on a whole new stance, and Hayden, who had been leaning against him where they stood, took a step away, noticing the change in his mood.
The apartment grew rather quiet, and the atmosphere completely changed as Ashton crossed the room to me. He sported his usual designer clothes and a new hairdo. It looked like some sort of faux-hawk instead of all the spikes he’d been faithful to for so many years. He smiled down at me and handed me a wrapped rectangular box.
“Happy birthday, Laney,” he said as I stared up at him. “Go ahead, open it,” he encouraged with a smile that I was sure hid some sort of alternate agenda.
As I peeled away the pink paper, I stared down at the most baffling gift yet. It was a vampire Barbie doll. I looked up at him somewhat confused, and he said, “I heard you like vampires.”
His eyes never faltered but I’m sure mine did. I’d seen Oliver take a step forward when Ashton said those words, and I shook my head just a tiny bit and saw him stop.
“I, uh, um, thanks…I guess,” I said.
He gave me a quick nod then headed for the kitchen. Everyone’s eyes were on me—except Kiera’s, she was the only one who was clueless to the whole “my boyfriend being a vampire” thing—and I’m sure they were all just as dumbfounded as I was.
I stared down at the doll. Does he know? I wondered. How could he?
Oliver still had his sunglasses on, even though it was now dark outside. I didn’t get what that was about but it would have been nice to be able to make eye contact with him so I would have some sort of idea what he was thinking.
Carter mouthed, “What the hell?” to me, and I shook my head and shrugged because I really had no idea.
Kiera had moved on—being the only one who was oblivious to what had happened—she had the cake on the table and ready for me. She had one big candle stuck in the center. She lit the candle and began singing “ Happy Birthday ” and everyone chimed in.
Everyone except Ashton, who was too busy downing a beer, and Oliver, who I assumed was too busy keeping an eye on Ashton. And of course me, it was my birthday after all.
I blew out the candle without making a wish, and Kiera began slicing up my mint chip and chocolate ice cream cake.
I whispered, or growled, I don’t really remember, “Why did you invite him?”
“I didn’t. He sent me a message earlier and asked if we were doing anything for your birthday, and I said yes. That was it. I didn’t even tell him where we’d be,” she whispered back.
I caught a whiff of the cake, the mint was strong, and my stomach rolled. I took a step back, and Kiera eyed me curiously. She handed a large piece of cake to Carter.
Between swigs of his second beer Ashton said, “Isn’t chocolate bad for dogs?”
I froze. Every inch of my body went completely stiff as I watched Carter’s eyes get huge. I’m sure mine were too.
All Kiera said was, “I don’t know, I guess so.” She shrugged, and I saw confusion cross her face for a brief moment.
Isaac popped up out of nowhere and introduced himself to Ashton as one of Carter’s friends. Then he suggested in a rather rudely-polite sort of way, that it was time for Ashton to leave. I was surprised how quietly and quickly Ashton was out the
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